Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov met with protesters in Donetsk

“Secession is not an aim, it is a mean. But the aim is a better life. I know your hearts bleed, so does mine”, - local media quoted Akhmetov as saying.

The tycoon urged to create a group to negotiate with police in order to prevent clashes in Donetsk.

The group was created, and together with Mr. Akhmetov left for police department.

Protesters in the city of Donetsk, who had occupied the regional administrative building on April 6, have formed Donetsk republican people’s council on Monday that declared the act of state independence of Donetsk People’s Republic.